Cantor Suggests Raising Taxes On The Poor: ‘You’ve Got To Discuss That Issue’

[WI_DEM]

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) revived one of the GOP’s favorite talking points this morning, telling attendees at a Politico-sponsored breakfast event that it was imperative that Congress address the “problem” that “more than 45 percent” of Americans aren’t paying income taxes.

The GOP has repeatedly made the claim that the poorest Americans need more “skin in the game.” Today, response to a question by ABC’s Jon Karl, Cantor made it clear that Republicans are interested in raising taxes on the poor while lowering tax rates for everyone else as part of any comprehensive tax reform plan:

CANTOR: We also know that over 45 percent of the people in this country don’t pay income taxes at all, and we have to question whether that’s fair. And should we broaden the base in a way that we can lower the rates for everybody that pays taxes. [...]

ThinkProgress has repeatedly explained why many Americans don’t pay income taxes — most either don’t make enough money or are college students or seniors with no yearly incomes. And those Americans are subject to various other forms of taxation, including the federal payroll tax.

http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2012/04/19/467476/cantor-raise-taxes-on-poor/

[anti-alec]

1. Please, Virginia, get rid of this schmuck

I'm serious.

He's an embarrassment to the Jewish community all over.

Make him face an early retirement from Congress.

[surrealAmerican]

9. He's an embarrassment to the human race.

I'm guessing he represents people who are quite as vile as he is, or he wouldn't say things like this.

[jwirr]

2. So Cantor wants to tax the children, the disabled and the elderly? Well as far as I know the elderly

and the disabled who have enough income are already taxed. As for children - shame.

[gratuitous]

3. Anything to forestall looking for money in some overstuffed pockets

Leave the Koch Brothers aloooooone!

[LonePirate]

4. Forgive me while my head spins ala Linda Blair in The Exorcist

So it's good for people who have nothing or little to pay more but it is bad for millionaires and more to pitch in another per cent or two. Rommunism indeed!

[madokie]

5. Heartless bastard

my apologie for using that word but he royally pissed me off

[hifiguy]

6. Can this "person" become any more

morally bankrupt?

[Initech]

7. Raise taxes on the 1% you fucking douchebags!!!

The GOP just doesn't give a shit about anyone that's not an über wealthy white male. It's revolting when their candidate is a guy who made a living destroying other people's. Worst party ever.

[shcrane71]

8. They already raised income taxes on the poor.

By removing the "Making Work Pay" credit, the US Congress raised taxes on the working poor.

[saras]

10. They're POOR. Don't you have to give them jobs, or welfare, or something, to pay taxes WITH???

[Ilsa]

11. A living wage would be a good start. nt

[Daniel537]

12. The GOP screwing over the poor. What else is new?

We can only hope enough people are paying attention to vote out these jerks.

[TheKentuckian]

13. I suggest raising Cantor, as in hang em high or razing his rotten ass to the ground under a prison

Last edited Thu Apr 19, 2012, 08:00 PM - Edit history (1)

Smarmy piece of worm ridden filth.

[WhoIsNumberNone]

14. Tell you what Cancer, you treasonous prick-

When you raise the standard of living of that 45% above the poverty line, and we'll talk about making them pay some taxes.

[Lasher]

15. OK, let's discuss how fair this is.

Cantor wants to discuss federal income taxes only, while ignoring other forms of taxation. That's because he really doesn't care about being fair. He's just trying to rationalize being a corrupt toadie for his affluent owners.

Other taxes, particularly regressive payroll taxes, change the overall tax burden distribution. Everybody who receives earned income is subject to payroll taxes. Three out of four US taxpayers pay more in payroll taxes than they do in income taxes.

Congressional Budget Office breaks down the 2007 share of the federal tax burden (only) as follows: The highest quintile (top 20%) received 55.9% of all income. They paid 86.0% of all federal income taxes and 68.9% of all federal taxes. The poorest 40% earned 12.4% of income. They paid -3.3% of federal income taxes and 5.4% of all federal taxes.

The Tax Foundation produced a breakdown for 1991 to 2004 that includes all federal, state, and local taxes. In this report the top quintile (the top 20%) received 41.5% of all US income and paid 48.8% of total taxes. The bottom two quintiles (the poorest 40%) earned 22% of all income and paid 13.9% of total taxes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressivity_in_United_States_income_tax

The lower 40% pays taxes. The top 20% is currently paying a higher percentage of federal taxes than they were from 1991 to 2004 because they are receiving a greater share of the income. That's unfair and Cantor is not going to make it any better with his reverse Robin Hood scheme.

[Taitertots]

16. GOP supporters must be really, really bad at math

And willing to believe any lies the GOP will barf out.

We could take everything the bottom 50% have and it wouldn't put a dent in the debt.

[SammyWinstonJack]

17. Evil little douche....

[HiPointDem]

18. Some of that 45% are in the top 1%, & the top 20%. If he wants them to pay up I'm all for it.

We can discuss raising taxes on the rest after we discuss raising taxes on the rich.

But that's verboten.

[muriel_volestrangler]

19. Cantor: Keep word on no-new-taxes pledge

Published: Nov. 14, 2011 at 4:43 PM

WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 (UPI) -- U.S. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor said lawmakers who signed a no-new-taxes pledge with conservative activist Grover Norquist should honor their commitment.

Cantor, who signed the pledge, said during his weekly media briefing Monday the issue isn't about a person, but about keeping one's word, The Hill reported.

"It's not about Grover Norquist. It's about commitments that people make to the electorate that they represent, to the people that sent them here," Cantor said. "That's what this is about. Your word should be good to your constituents, and that's what we're dealing with here."

Read more: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2011/11/14/Cantor-Keep-word-on-no-new-taxes-pledge/UPI-46321321307033/#ixzz1sZWfgh3z

Hypocritical fuck. He tries to say "no new taxes, ever" one moment, and then wants to raises taxes on the people least able to pay them the next.

[Lasher]

20. That is a very good point.

An obvious one you would think, but I did not immediately make this connection. This makes it more clear that the Norquist pledge is nothing but a loyalty oath to the wealthy elite.